The top 7 best kitchen hood exhaust fans - Pros and Cons

Kitchen hood exhaust fans are surely one of the most important accessories of any kitchen. Finding the best kitchen hood for your home could be a real dilemma considering the variety out there. Therefore, I've come up with a list of the most popular kitchen range hoods in various categories (Including the Pro's and Con's of each thereby helping you choose the perfect one for your home). If at all you're interested in a particular style you could always go to a specific page that is linked so as to view the top range hoods in a particular category such as Stainless steel hoods, Glass canopy Hoods, Island Range Hoods, Black Cooker Hoods, Kitchen Extractor Fans and so on.

Kitchen Exhaust fans don't just purify the air in your kitchen; they help protect your home too. When ever you cook something in your kitchen - oil vapors, steam, smoke and much more is released into your kitchen atmosphere in addition to the delicacies that end up on your plate.

These vapors collect and form oily layers on your ceilings, accessories and articles in your kitchen as well as on the furniture, not just in your kitchen but throughout your home. In the long term, this would end up damaging your furniture as well as other accessories around your home. The only option you'll have left would be replacement - Which surely isn't what anyone would want. Therefore, just by installing a kitchen hood exhaust fan you'd be able to protect your home.

Reviews of the Top Kitchen Hood Exhaust Fans

Tips to help you install a Kitchen Hood Exhaust Fan

It's not just Beauty that's lost - Range Hood's Protect your Home as well as Health

Each home is different and everyone would need a different type of range hood. There surely can't be a single BEST kitchen range hood. However, there are plenty of high quality range hoods manufactured and those are the one's that you'd find here and on the linked pages. Make sure to consider each and every aspect of the range hood as explained in my article on - Choosing the Best Range Hood for your kitchen (Linked on the right)

Below you'll find a list of some of the Kitchen Hood Exhaust fans that have amazed me because of their specific qualities. Note that they've been separated and I've mentioned one from each Category. I've considered every aspect and picked the top range hoods and extractor fans. If you're interested in a particular style, click the link below the specific range hood which will take you to a page of the top in that particular category bearing the top including the pros and cons (There are different types in each category and you may find the others better than the one posted here).

As already mentioned, these are some of the best and not #1 as each home has different needs; hence, the categorization so as to make your search easier. Each of the categorized pages will have the top 3-5 range hoods belonging to that category.

If at all you use your kitchen just occasionally you wouldn't need a strong exhaust and just a small kitchen extractor fan would be enough rather than going ahead and buying a kitchen range hood.

Kitchen Exhaust Fans are cheap, use less power and small as well. Let's take a look at some of the best in this category:

This Kitchen Extractor Fan is not just small, it's easy to install and helps maintain the temperature in your kitchen as well. Note that it is a ceiling mounted fan.

Positive Features of this Mounted Kitchen Extractor Fan:

• Blower Design - The blower is well designed so as to draw in air from both sides; hence, this extractor fan is capable of delivering higher performance at minimal power consumption rates.
• Motor Lubrication - The motors are sealed and well lubricated with permanent lubricants. Therefore, this extractor fan can serve you well for years without any sort of problems.
• Extractor Power - The fan in these extractors have a CFM (Cubic Feet per Minute - rate of exhaust) of 110.
• Optimal Heat transfer - This extractor fan has a Nichrome wire with Magnesium Oxide which are good conductors of heat and therefore, the overall heat transfer is superb.
• Silent - They operate at just 0.7 sones which is quiet silent and you won't even know they're on unless the surroundings are extremely silent.
• Longer life - In addition to the well lubricated motors, this kitchen extractor fan operates at lower temperatures and hence the bearings last longer as well. Rusting is prevented as the casing is galvanized with a Zinc coating.
• Damper is Installed - The extractor fan also has a built in damper which prevents a back flow and hence ensures that there's just a single way flow of air. Thereby, maintaining the internal room temperature.
• Lighting - In addition to extracting exhaust air, this extractor fan also has lighting capabilities if you need it.

Disadvantages of this Kitchen Extractor Fan:

• Not that good looking
• Panasonic Service isn't quite efficient in many areas so in case of any problems whatsoever you may find it hard to get some service staff over.
• You don't have a choice in color and you'd have to stick with the original.

In case of most homes, it isn't possible to fix an extractor fan to the ceiling. In such cases the next best thing to do is get yourself a wall mounted fan. The Whisper Wall Mounted Kitchen Extractor Fan is installed through the wall i.e. the exhaust escapes through an opening in the wall where the fan is installed.

Advantages of using this Kitchen Extractor Fan:

• Back Draft Damper is Installed - The Back Draft Damper prevents external air from entering your kitchen thereby maintaining the room temperature. It's installed near the external hood and the blades are controlled by gravity hence don't use up power.
• The Motor - The motor is well lubricated and safely enclosed in a chamber so as to ensure long life and performance for years. Also, this kitchen Extractor Fan just like the one above is capable of operating at lower temperatures and hence the overall life of both, the motor as well as the bearings is increased.
• Sound - It's a bit less silent (Not noisy though) when compared to the extractor fan mentioned above. This fan operates at 0.8 Sones.
• This fan just like the Panasonic Whisper Ceiling Mounted Extractor Fan is Rust Proof and Possesses superior blower design.

Disadvantages of this Kitchen Extractor Fan:

• The Fan speed is just 70 CFM and if at all it's installed far from your kitchen range it may take some time to successfully expel any fumes and vapors that are produced. Therefore, this fan would be a good option only if you don't use your kitchen much.
• Color - You don't have a choice when it comes to color and for some this is a big problem. However, the original color isn't bad at all.

If you're interested in Kitchen Extractor Fans, you'd certainly find the Pros and Cons of the top Kitchen Extractor Fans helpful.

This Best Wall mounted Stainless Steel Hood is a 36" range hood and has plenty of amazing features and is ideal for homes wherein the kitchen is used quite often. It's got a stainless steel finish and hence looks great when installed in your kitchen.

Advantages of using this Stainless steel Hood:

• Powerful Blower - This Stainless Steel hood has a powerful blower and therefore, is ideal for homes that use their kitchens several times a day or for long duration's. It's got a 600 CFM Blower.
• Controls - The lighting and Speed of the fan is controlled using a push button system.
• Lighting - In addition to exhaust this stainless steel hood also provides you lighting features and the lighting has three settings.
• Speed Control - The fan of this Range hood has four control speeds and therefore, you can set it as per your requirements. Since you're using only as much as you need, the overall efficiency of this range hood is quite high.
• Filters - Made of stainless Steel mesh filters, this stainless steel hood is easy to maintain and performs quite well.

Disadvantages:

• Sound - This fan has some great features that make it the ideal choice; but, only choose this fan if you're ok with the sound levels of 8.5 Sones.

If you're interested in checking out more Stainless Steel Hoods that have great features and ones that are silent as well you'd love reading the top Stainless Steel Cooker Hoods - Pro's and Con's compared.

This Range hood falls in both Categories Island Range Hoods as well as Canopy Cooker Hoods. For now let's stick to the Canopy Cooker Hoods. There are various types of Canopies, flat, arched as well as metal and glass.

Advantages of this Stainless Steel Canopy Cooker Hood:

• Air Flow - The Akdy Euro Style Canopy Cooker Hood is ideal for all homes as it has got a CFM rating of 870.
• Blades - Every fan has blades and they're all out of sight.Therefore, most people tend to ignore the quality of blades when planning on buying a range hood. But, what's the use of a range hood without a fan blade? This Canopy Cooker Hood has a high quality Teflon coated blade and hence longer life and better performance.
• Speed - Efficiency is one of the most important factors to consider when buying any range hood. This range hood runs at three speeds and therefore, depending on the amount of Fumes and vapors being produced you could alter the speed for optimum performance and efficiency.

Disadvantages of this Canopy Cooker Hood:

• Installation - Even though the Akdy Euro Style Canopy Cooker Hood is easy to install, the manual doesn't explain the process well.
• LED lights - The range hood possesses 4 LED lights; but, they aren't bright enough and they're actually just a fashion accessory. Therefore, if you want your range to be lit up you'd have to have lights installed over your range.

There are various types of Canopy Cooker Hoods, check out the top 4 Canopy Cooker Hoods.

If you're looking for beauty, performance, superior controls as well as efficiency this Glass Cooker Hood would be a great choice.

Advantages of this Arched Tempered Glass Cooker Hood:

• Ductless Installation is possible - In addition to ducted installation, you could also install it without ducts. Unlike most of the other range hoods that offer you dual options, you wouldn't need to buy any extra kit for the ductless installation as the carbon filters are already in built.
• Controls - Touch Screen Controls that add to the beauty of your kitchen and at the same make it easier to control.
• It's Seamless - There are absolutely no external welds visible. Therefore, it's perfect for your home if you want something that adds to the beauty of your home.
• Filters - The filters are dishwasher friendly as they are Aluminium Micro Grease Filters and hence easy to maintain and handle. In addition to these filters you'd also find carbon filters that are specifically installed so as to allow ductless installation. These filters help filter off odors.

Disadvantages of this Glass Cooker Hood:

• Installation - The manual isn't that well written and hence if you don't have basic knowledge regarding the installation of kitchen range hoods, you may find it a bit challenging. If you read the manual slowly you'd certainly get it; but, you'd have to concentrate.

If you love Glass Cooker Hoods you'd certainly love the variety available: Check out the top 6 Glass Cooker Hoods.

• First of all if you never had an exhaust system before you’ll need to find the perfect spot to fix it. Measurements will have to be taken and the kitchen hood exhaust fan you choose should be over the entire stove. If at all you had a previous kitchen hood it would be much easier as you already know the measurements.
• Once you’ve chosen the perfect spot to place your kitchen hood exhaust fan you’ll then need to ensure that the area is cleaned properly so that the fan functions at its maximum potential.
• If you don’t have a duct system and if you need one (it depends on the type of kitchen hood exhaust fan you choose) you’ll need to hire a trained technician to do it perfectly or anyone with prior experience.
• After the ducts have been placed you will need to make the necessary electrical connections and finally the last step is the actual installation of the kitchen hood. You will need the help of a few people when installing your kitchen hood exhaust fans.

It isn't just the beauty of your home that's at risk because of the oil fumes that are emitted from the food that you cook. These fumes are a huge health hazard as well, especially if they keep collecting. Obviously they aren't life threatening but they are known to cause nasal problems in some individuals which could end up as bronchitis or asthma.

Kitchen hood exhaust fans are either the ductless type or the ones with ducts. Both of them help you get rid of the polluted air and refresh the air within your kitchen. The ductless ones work as filters purifying the air and they let the same air back in. However, the ones with ducts extract the air to the outer atmosphere and let fresh air enter your kitchen.

If you go to your local stores or conduct a simple search online you'll find a huge list of kitchen hood exhaust fans from the best brands! So, how do you actually decide which one is the best for you? Of course its hard if you don't know how to shorten down your list. But, there are plenty of things that you could do in order to get a shortlist of the best exhaust fans for your home and budget.

Let's take a look at some of the basic steps that you need to follow in order to get an extremely short list of potential exhaust fans for your perfect home:

1. First and foremost you would need to collect a list of brands from whom you'd be willing to buy your kitchen hood exhaust fans as there are plenty of them out there. Remember to keep your options open as there are brilliant models available.
2. You would certainly have a budget and you’d also have a list of features that you’d want your kitchen hood to include such as high efficiency, minimum noise, long life, a warranty and various other features. Therefore, your first elimination round should eliminate all the kitchen hood fans that don’t meet the above standards. This will reduce your list drastically!
3. Wouldn’t it be awesome if your kitchen hood blended in well with your kitchen in terms of colours, size as well as design? Therefore, your next elimination round should get rid of all the kitchen hoods that don’t meet these requirements or in simple words the ones that don’t match the interiors of your kitchen should be rejected.
4. That’s it! Now it’s time to do some individual research on all the kitchen hoods that have survived and are on your shortlist. Ask family and friends to help you decide and also check out reviews written online; but, make sure to check out reviews that include both the pros and cons of each individual model rather than just the advantages as some of them even though they seem fine have plenty of drawbacks.
5. Go ahead and order the one that bests suits your home and budget for that's the best one for you even though it may not be on the top list for others.

These are just a few points to keep in mind; but, for a complete guide check out the article I wrote titled: How to choose a Range Hood for YOUR Kitchen